Punk-country artist loves Farmer Jason role playing for kids

Friday

Feb 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM

There's no way to get away from Jason Ringenberg's punk rock roots, and now he's sharing them with a new generation of fans.

By JASON GILMERFor Halifax Media Group

There's no way to get away from Jason Ringenberg's punk rock roots, and now he's sharing them with a new generation of fans.Just listen to his alter ego, Farmer Jason, sing “Punk Rock Skunk” and hear him belt out The Ramones' “Hey ho, let's go” during the tune.Ringenberg is famous for leading punk-country pioneers Jason and the Scorchers. His band became the early champions of alt-country music. There's an exhibit about the band in the Country Music Hall of Fame and they received the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.With Jason and the Scorchers in the 1980s, Jason pioneered the fusion of punk rock and country that helped birth the modern Americana and alt-country genres. They are recipients of the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.Ringenberg, who'll play a Farmer Jason show for kids and families at 3 p.m. Sunday in Asheville, made his first album of kids' music for his own children.“I never thought it would become a major part of my artistic life,” he said.Since the first music came out almost 10 years ago, Ringenberg has toured the country and overseas playing songs such as “Dison the Bison,” “Take a Hike” and “Can You Canoe?”His shows are more spontaneous as Farmer Jason, and he talks a lot with the crowd.“I just have to get on stage and get people's attention. Either way, that's what you have to do,” he said. “A room of 5-year-olds is no different than a room of adults. Sometimes the behavior is similar.”Farmer Jason has released three albums that each have a concept. “A Day at the Farm,” “Rockin' in the Forest” and “Nature Jams” all invite children to get outside for activities.

Writing children's music comes easier for Ringenberg.“I don't have quite the heritage I have in the other world to live up to,” he said. “You have to make it really catchy; that's the most important thing. I have a concept for records as opposed to writing music about what you're feeling.”Preschool through second- or third-graders make up the bulk of his audience, and he doesn't release new material each year. There's no reason, he said, as new fans are constantly growing into his music.While he still does solo shows and concerts with the Scorchers, Ringenberg enjoys playing the lovable Farmer Jason.“It's a lot of fun. I love doing kids' music,” he said. “I wouldn't trade it for anything.”